The "unnecessary cliffhanger" and Dean’s decision to kick Castiel out were viewed by some as heavy-handed writing.

Reviewers from Den of Geek and IMDb identified several points of contention:

Fans and viewers often focus on the emotional impact of Castiel's newfound mortal limitations and the heartbreak of his eventual exile from the bunker.

“Poor Cas is really getting the short end of the stick when it comes to being human. He's homeless, struggling to find food, and just barely surviving.” Reddit · r/Supernatural · 1 year ago

Dean's struggle between protecting Sam and being loyal to Castiel creates significant dramatic tension. Critical Consensus

While the Castiel scenes were strong, subplots like the Buddy Boyle televangelist arc felt disconnected or rushed. Community Voices